Monday, October 31, 2011

This year I really wanted to make Catie a great Halloween costume so I spent a lot of time thinking about it. I had a list of requirements I wanted the costume to meet.

I wanted the costume to be something she recognized.

I didn't want it to be a full body like a lion with a big headpiece.

I wanted it to be something she wouldn't mind wearing.

That's a pretty hefty list and as much as I thought I couldn't come up with anything close. I ended up settling on The Queen, not an ancient Queen but a modern one. I made her a beautiful cloak and a crown (which I'll show you at a later date), I was also going to make her a sash and she'd wear a fancy dress. It was going to be really cute only she'd keep her crown on for 3 seconds and her cloak for 5 minutes. I was discouraged and knew Halloween was going to be a disappointment.

Then one day we randomly watched the movie Annie and Catie loved it! We've watched it many times since and she still gets upset whenever Annie isn't on the screen. So last week I ditched the cloak and traded it in for some red, white and black fabric and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Sorry but no tutorial, we made it up as we went along. We used a sweater and a dress to come up with our pattern. She cried every time I measured her or tried pieces on and we were shocked when the collar and the sleeves turned out so well. I lined the bodice and there's a zipper in the back. It's hard to tell in the photo but I sprayed her hair red, she cried the whole time but the results were worth it.

She looked in the mirror and said "Annie". Just exactly what I wanted to happen. I have a cute heart shaped gold necklace she'll wear too but this photo was taken in Utah and the necklace is at home so you'll have to imagine it.

For those of you that don't remember what Annie looked like let me remind you.

Hopefully this will set the standard for following years and I'm excited to see people's responses to my Little Orphan Annie.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

We were really bored the other day so I filled the sink with water, tossed a bunch of random kitchen tools in, pulled up a chair and let her go to town. She had a blast.

This seems like a logical place to sit hey?

She was watching Sesame Street and just looked so cute.

She loves to lay on the floor and poke holes through the paper. She giggles at each hole.

And clearly this is the correct way to push a stroller right? She loves to go fast and run into things.

Snuggled up after her nap

We went to the park one day this week but it was a little chilly so I added her hat that cousin Brynn gave her. I also threw on this coat which is a little small but a good fall weight. I'm so glad that her Yeti boots fit her this year and that it's time to pull them out again. She looks at the pom poms and says "ball".

Bonus video this week, Catie and Daddy playing horsie. In case you need interpreting she says again and then she says ready twice.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

**Update... I don't have any plans to make more boards right now, sorry if you were hoping to buy one. I may make more in the future so check back occasionally to see if they show up.**

So remember that time I went to the craft fair and sold Make-up Magnet Boards? I told you I had some left over and I'd post them here but I haven't actually done that yet. Well I'm finally ready to post them. The measurements I'm listing below don't include the frame, it's the magnetic area only and please note that these boards are not going to come with my makeup, you need to add your own.

Update: Sold
First up is one of my favourites, this black fabric and mustard frame measures 10"x13". It comes with 10 magnets and a tall brush holder. You can see that the frame has a lot of great detailing to it and it's been glazed to bring that out.

Update: Sold
This blue and cream combo is 12"x18". It also comes with the same brush holder and 10 magnets.

Update: Sold
Love this classy beige and black one. The frame has some nice details to it and the colours are very crisp. Again, 10 magnets and the brush holder and it measures 12"x16".

Update: Sold
This is the last of my large sized frames and if you have a decent sized make-up collection it's the one I'd choose. This frame is 16"x20". It comes with 12 magnets, a tall brush holder and a small mesh basket as well to hold eye liners, mascara, foundation and anything else you want to put in there. The frame is a pretty turquoise that goes well with the grey.

So there you have it, 4 frames left and if you love any of them they can be yours.

Let's talk a bit about shipping though. I'm only going to ship these to Canada and the US and you'll need to pay the shipping cost. I roughly priced out once what it would cost to ship these to the US and it's going to be about $20 so if you need this to cross the border I'm willing to knock $10 off the price to help make that less painful. Also, one last option, I'm going down to Idaho Falls and the Salt Lake area next week so if you lived around there we could probably work out some sort of delivery. I'm also willing to deliver if you're someone I know.

Money will be accepted through Paypal (or again, if I know you we can arrange something in person).

Let me introduce you to Catie's baby. It has no name other than baby, it's clothes are very dirty and the gender is a mystery yet it has become very important us. She takes it everywhere with her and can often be seen saying, "Baby?" while trying to remember where she left it last.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Ages ago while I was in the thrift store I picked up an off white sweater that I had intended to turn into a sweater dress for Catie. I shoved it in a drawer and sort of forgot about it until Thursday when I read this sweater to sweater dress post from Make It and Love It. I was re-inspired and immediately got to work.

It's the perfect season for a cuddly long sleeve dress and it ended up being a quick job that turned out even better than I had anticipated.

It looked like this the first time around but the neck was kind of gapey and it was also pretty boring. I added some elastic to the neck and some silk flowers to the front. It was also pretty see through so I made her a quick slip (I won't show it to you because it's functional but not very pretty).

She loves it and looks so cute in it. I'll admit that I'm more than a little proud to exclaim, "I made it!" when any one even sort of comments on it.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Well we've recently moved into a new apartment and I no longer have room for it. I've listed it for sale on Kijiji for $40 but I thought I'd offer it here for $30. So if any of you local readers are interested it could be yours. Just send me an email, let me know if you could use this beautiful chair in your office/craft room.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

I wasn't going to post at all this week but then I discovered a few photos on my phone I'd forgotten I'd taken. We moved to our own place so for most of the week the camera was packed somewhere and lost. I did find it though so next week should be better.

For her birthday Grandma West gave Catie this awesome tea set with a cart but I saved it until this week when we moved. I set it up so when she came out of her room the first day she'd see it and she took to it immediately. Loves it and pushes it around all day.

Brad being a jungle gym for Catie and Gwen.

Catie and I went to a little girl's birthday party over the weekend and Catie really enjoyed the cake. I like the purple icing swipe across her forehead.

Standing by the dresser that was supposed to be refinished this summer. Instead it stayed in storage and I missed a whole painting season. Oh well, there's always next summer.